The street stretched ahead of them.The lights were still there—soft, embedded beneath the pavement like flowing line. The whole street was as silent as an ocean. The only thing they could hear was the sounds of birds and insects cause it was past midnight.
Yuexin glanced around as they walked.
The buildings were familiar in structure, but the displays along their surfaces were quite different. Like the dates and year of events.
"…You walk like you're being followed," Yuexin said suddenly.
The woman didn't stop. "…And you talk like you're not afraid of anything."
"I— I am," Yuexin replied honestly. A small pause. "…I just don't like showing it." That earned her a brief glance. Not judgmental. Just being curious.
"…Good," the woman said."…You shouldn't your feelings to anyone or else you get decieved."
The streets slowly got wider and they found themselves inthe main road which further lead to a huge building called "Winter Cherry Hotel", it stood quietly at the edge of the district.
Yuexin slowed slightly. "…Where are we going?"
"…Somewhere safe somewhere we don't get chased." "…That's not very specific." Yuexin replied.
A few more steps passed in silence before Yuexin spoke again, more carefully this time.
"…Those people," she said, her voice quieter,"…they weren't just chasing us for no reason. Right?" The woman replied with a cold response,"…No." Yuexin continued, "…And you knew how to deal with them."
"…Yes." "…So you're part of something." This time, the woman didn't avoid it. "…An organization," she said simply. "…We handle irregular incidents."
Yuexin frowned slightly. "…Irregular… like what just happened?" "…Yes." That answer came too smoothly. Yuexin's fingers curled slightly at her side. "…Then this isn't rare." "…No."
That word settled deeper than she expected. For a moment, Yuexin said nothing. Then— "…Earlier," she said slowly, "…there was something on the street."
"…What?" The woman got curious."
…A screen." The woman sighed, "So... ?"
"…It showed a headline," Yuexin continued, thinking carefully,"…about a singer."
"…A singer?"
"…Yeah. Lian." This time—There was a pause. …I don't recognize that name," the woman said. Yuexin blinked. "…You don't?"
"…No."
"…That's strange." The words slipped out before she could stop them. Yuexin thought to herself, (because it was strange. Lian wasn't unknown. Even if someone didn't follow music, they would've at least heard the name. For the last 7 years, he was on every posters, screens, magazines and every reality show. Until he disappeared 5 years ago). Yuexin slowed slightly.
"…Maybe you just don't pay attention to that kind of thing," she added, brushing it off.
"…Maybe." But the woman's tone had changed. Slightly. They walked a little further before she spoke again.
"…What did it say?" Yuexin hesitated. "…That he was going on hiatus," she said.
Another pause. "…And you found that unusual?"
"…Not exactly," Yuexin replied slowly. …It's just…" She frowned faintly. "…I thought I saw something different earlier."
"…Different how?"
"…Like he was coming back." The words lingered. The woman didn't respond immediately.
Shortly after they stopped in front of a building, "Winter Cherry Hotel."
"That's where you'll be staying for a while." The woman said. Yuexin was stunned when she heard her say that, "then why didn't you say so when I asked you that where were going. This hotal was visible from milles away.
The smirked. "What is the fun in telling you everything. Besides what if you ran away."
Yuexin got furious and her eyes started twitching but she calmed her anger. "First of all, why do you think I would stay here. Wouldn't my parents be worried about me? And who are you? Just because you saved me doesn't mean you are not a bad person?"
"You want me to answer all your questions right... here?" The woman curiously asked. "What if the people chasing us sees us?"
Yuexin narrowed her eyes and, "hmm... Let's go."
The woman laughed at her reaction and then they both walked toward the hotal. The hotel was thirty-something floors or more of pale glass and soft lighting, its structure clean and modern without trying too hard to impress. A faint reflection of the city shimmered across its surface, like it existed slightly apart from everything around it.
They stepped inside. The lobby was warm and overly luxurious—and carefully designed. Soft lighting, polished floors, a quiet arrangement of seating areas. A few people were scattered across the space, but their presence felt… distant. It was too quiet. Yuexin noticed it immediately. Her gaze shifter toward the reception desk. A man stood behind it, dressed neatly, posture straight. He looked any other receptionist until his eyes lifted and paused on her like he trying to to know who she was, her purpose of her arrival.
"...Good evening," he said soomthly. The woman stepped forward, "A room for her."
The receptionist turned his eyes toward Yuexin. "Do you have a reservation?" "No", Yuexin replied.
"Can you tell me your name please, your contact number and can you please show me your ID." He continued.
Yuexin was hesitant for a second and then she replied, "Chen Xian, 8676243ed, I... umm forgot my ID and besides I don't have a single Fei."
* "Fei", Currency of Xuanjing, a digital note.
The woman interrupted, "don't worry, I'll pay for you. Since, I brought you here without your consent." Yuexin looked at her and paued for a second ( "WAIT... when did I agree to stay here?" ).
The man behind the reception desk was already reaching for the console beside him. His fingers moved quikly. "…Room 1806," the man said, sliding a key card across the desk.
His gaze flickered toward Yuexin again.
"…If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
The elevator ride was quiet. Yuexin leaned slightly against the glass wall, watching the numbers change.
10. 11. 12. 13...
The door opened with a soft chime. The hallway was silent. Thick carpet muffled their footsteps. Before they entered the room, Yuexin noticed that every corner of the hall had cameras.
"...Go in." The woman unlocked the door and stepped aside slightly. Yuexin hesitated for just a second. She then entered the room thinking that, "what's the point of hesitating now?"
The room was spacious. A large window stretched across one wall, overlooking the city below. The lights outside shimmered brightly and from this height, everything looked so small. There was a bed, a seating area, a small table, and a wall-mounted digital panel. Everything was neat and perfectly arranged.
Yuexin didn't waste any time and started questioning the woman. "So now tell me. Who are you? What do you want from me? Who were the people chasing after me without any reason? And what is your connection with them, cause it seemed like they knew you?"
The woman poured a glass of water for Yuexin and sat across Yuexin on the sofa. Then the woman calmly replied. "First have some water." The woman started with the introduction. "My name is Xu Minye. And I work for the government. And for the people who were chasing after you... hmm... I don't really know, maybe they found something unusual? Now you tell me. What were you doing there?" The woman—Xu Minye— widened her eyes as she looked at her while asking.
Yuexin slowly walked over to the sofa and set down beside her while reaching for the glass she hesitantly replied, "I was... heading home and then I felt like I was being followed. I confronted them but they didn't say anything. So I got scared and started running. That's when I met you." Inside her mind, Yuexin was thinking that (how can O trust a stanger. And It's not like I'm lying, it's just that for my own safety I'll have to keep some things hidden.)
Minye looked at her with questioning eyes. She could tell that Yuexin was not truly being honest with her. "Hmm... I see. You must've be startled." Minye assured her that she is safe with her. And told Yuexin that it was getting late. So she'll come back tomorrow morning to visit her and take her home. Before she could leave the room, Yuexin stopped her and asked, "what should I call you Miss Xu or..."
"—Just Minye", she replied.
"Minye-jie cause you look a little bit older than me. So Minye-jie, that means I can leave tomorrow?
Minye looked at her and paused for a second. "Yes. When everything looks fine." Then she left hurriedly and shut the door before Yuexin could say anything.
... ... ...
"When-when everything looks fine? Fine... what does she mean by fine?" Yuxin could not hold her anger anymore and started cursing behind her. "That means I'll be staying until she gets everything out of me." Then she angrily drank the water from the glass and brushed her fingers against the digital panel on the wall. Then the screen lit up.
The next thing she saw made her completely blank. The glass fell down from her hand and scattered into thousand pieces.